Grapes
Grapes (2012)
18×12 Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
Almost every art course includes the traditional task of rendering a still life, whether it is a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit. As part of my Fresh Fruit series, Grapes was born out of a desire to subvert the mundane nature of traditional still-life painting. Working in pastel, the creative challenge was dual-focused: I needed to capture the matte, soft texture of skin and sheets while rendering the glossy, translucent quality of individual grapes. By zooming in closely on the subject's midsection and thighs, I used a warm, romantic palette of soft pinks, deep reds, and rich flesh tones to seamlessly blend the organic shapes of the fruit with the powerful contours of the male physique.
